Electrolytic cell

Abstract

An electrolytic cell, particularly one for use in the production of foil, in which the cathode comprises a rotating drum having a conforming anode spaced therefrom with a melded fibre interlayer. The interlayer remains stationary while the drum rotates over the fibrous surface, thereby breaking up the depleted barrier layer adjacent the cathode, avoiding arcing and reducing the tendency for the cathode deposit to grow in a modular manner.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrolytic cell for the production of sheet metal comprising a container for electrolyte, a cylindrical cathode rotatable about its longitudinal axis having part at least of its surface immersed within the electrolyte, an anode of particulate consumable or slowly consumable metallic material, a stereo-reticular array of electrically insulating material in contact with the cathode and anode and spacing the anode from the cathode, the stereo-reticular array being fixed in position relative to the anode and to the container, the cathode being rotatable with its surface in contact with the stereo-reticular array so that the surface of the cathode wipes the stereo-reticular array. 
     
     
       2. A cell as in claim 1 in which the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical cathode is in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
       3. A cell as in claim 1 in which the cathode is formed of a material chosen from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, or other film-forming metal. 
     
     
       4. A cell as in claim 1 including means for continuously stripping electrodeposit off the cathode in the form of a foil. 
     
     
       5. A cell as in claim 1 in which the container contains an electrolyte containing ions selected from the group consisting of copper ions and iron ions whereby a foil of copper or iron, respectively, is formed on the cathode. 
     
     
       6. A cell as in claim 5 in which the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of acidic copper sulphate solution and acidic ferrous chloride solution. 
     
     
       7. A cell as in claim 1 in which the stereo-reticular array is formed of a melded fibre structure of plastics material fibre. 
     
     
       8. A cell as in claim 7 in which the plastics material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, or acid resistant polyester. 
     
     
       9. A cell as in claim 1 in which the stereo-reticular array is a non-woven open skeletal structure of many resilient springy fibrous members. 
     
     
       10. A cell as in claim 1 in which the consumable anode is formed of particulate scrap material to be electrorefined, and means for continuously replenishing the scrap material during operation of the cell. 
     
     
       11. A cell as in claim 1 in which the slowly consumable anode material is an intermetallic compound. 
     
     
       12. A cell as in claim 11 in which the intermetallic compound is a compound of titanium. 
     
     
       13. A cell as in claim 1 including a feeder bar for feeding current into the particulate anode. 
     
     
       14. A cell as in claim 13 in which the feeder bar is a copper cored titanium bar. 
     
     
       15. A cell as in claim 1 in which the stereo-reticular array is in the form of a sheet which is tensioned against the surface of the cathode drum to space the particulate anode material from the surface.